Press release from: Clackamas County Sheriff's Office

Deputies arrest armed sex offender -- and the high-speed pursuit suspect who called to brag

Attached Media Files: James Alan Ojanen 07-03-80.jpg , Heather Ann Peters 03-08-1984.jpg

Clackamas County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a call that turned into a high-speed chase -- and then that high-speed chase led to the arrest of an armed sex offender.

And THEN it led to deputies intercepting a phone call in which a suspect bragged about eluding them ... and then mistakenly telling deputies where to pick him up.

At 4:29 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 7, Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Patrol deputies were dispatched to investigate reports of suspicious vehicle activity occurring in front of the residence at 6956 SE Fir, in Portland.

Upon arrival in the area, deputies witnessed two vehicles -- described as a passenger vehicle and a van -- departing the area.

Patrol deputies stopped the passenger vehicle, which complied with patrol car's emergency lights. This passenger vehicle -- stopped at SE Lamphier and 80th -- was found to be occupied by a female driver, identified as Heather Ann Peters (DOB 03-08-84).

Heather Peters was arrested during this traffic stop, and was lodged in Clackamas County Jail on charges of Identity Theft and Possession of a Controlled Substance -- Methamphetamine 1. Photo attached.

The other vehicle (the van) was observed leaving the area of SE Fir, its driver failing to comply with the emergency lights and initiating a pursuit. The van traveled through portions of Milwaukie, SE Industrial Way, SE Linwood, and SE Flavel at a high rate of speed.

Patrol deputies pursued, but backed off from this fleeing vehicle, due to the increased speed and concern for public safety. However, this suspect vehicle was later located parked and unoccupied near SE 69th and Carlson in Portland.

Closer inspection of this vehicle revealed it was displaying switched license plates. The van was discovered to be a reported stolen vehicle from Portland.

Deputies developed investigative information that led them to a residence at 6124 SE Woodstock in Portland. During this investigative contact, Sheriff's Deputies conducted a "knock and talk" with the occupants at this address, who consented to a search.

During this investigative effort, a male subject was discovered sleeping in a bed -- while armed with a handgun.

This subject was disarmed and arrested at the scene, then discovered to be a registered sex offender. This subject was determined not to be the driver or passenger of the stolen vehicle of interest -- merely a convicted felon sleeping in the wrong place, at the wrong time, armed with a handgun.

This subject identified as Justin R. Conway (DOB 01-31-81); he was taken into custody and transported to Multnomah County Jail and lodged. Conway -- a convicted sex offender -- was lodged on a probation violation, and for the related charge of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Please contact the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Jail for a photo of this subject.

Moving further with the investigation, Patrol personnel located a cell phone that the actual suspect driver of the stolen van called. This phone rang, and was answered by Sheriff's Patrol personnel.

The caller on the other end of the line (who presumed he was talking with a friend) immediately began bragging on the phone about having outrun the police in a pursuit – then said he was in desperate need of someone to meet him for a ride out of the area in an effort to avoid capture.

The quick-thinking Sheriff's Office personnel were very obliging on the phone, and agreed to meet this subject near a park located at SE 87th and Claybourne in Portland.

Eager to assist, Patrol deputies commandeered a command staff supervisor's unmarked vehicle, then anxiously greeted the suspect -- who was totally surprised as he presented himself to the armed uniformed Patrol personnel that emerged from the unmarked vehicle that arrived to provide this subject transportation out of the area.

This suspect was immediately taken into custody, and identified as James Alan Ojanen (DOB 07-03-80). An amazed Ojanen was transported to Clackamas County Jail, where he was lodged and charged with Probation Violation - Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and Eluding a Police Officer 2. (Photo attached)

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